SOUTHPORT Melodic Jazz Club (SMJC) present the seventh ‘Jazz on a Winter’s Weekend’ at the Royal Clifton Hotel next month.

To celebrate its 20th birthday year SMJC has arranged an extra special series of concerts through 2011, starting off with a bumper festival programme.

Whilst retaining its now familiar and successful format of 11 two-hour concerts, this year brings an exciting mixture of contemporary jazz from new and emerging bands, top-of-the-tree UK stars and visiting world class musicians from the USA, Eastern Europe and South Africa.

Big band fans will relish the chance to hear Laurence Cottle’s all-star line-up on Friday evening and on Sunday morning The Leeds College of Music Big Band lead by Neil Yates which will feature the college’s star alumnus saxophonist Alan Barnes.

Saturday sees a phenomenal programme of pianist led combinations opening with Azerbaijani superstar David Gazarov’s trio, followed by British Jazz’s godfather Stan Tracey’s octet and concluding with a duet featuring Scotland’s number one pianist Brian Kellock with saxophonist Julian Arguelles.

There are just two vocal jazz spots, both unmissable. The Friday night late gig features beautiful singer-double bassist Nicola Farnon’s quartet with guest guitarist, Liverpool’s number one, Anthony Ormesher.

On Sunday afternoon, making an exclusive UK appearance at the festival, from Los Angeles, is The Tierney Sutton Band.

Alan Barnes, popular jazz band-leader, arranger, composer and saxophonist appears on Sunday evening with British tenor sax legend Don Weller jointly heading a sextet featuring the music of the great Cannonball Adderley.

New boys on the block will be quintet Rhythymica, a London band from the Dune Records stable which opens Saturday’s proceedings to launch their debut album at the festival; and Friday’s openers Southbound will too be making their festival debut.

To conclude the festival on Sunday’s late set, star bassist Mick Hutton’s quartet which features Mark Edwards on piano, drummer Paul Robinson and guest jazz harmonica genius Adam Glasser from South Africa.

All this plus talks, workshops and exhibitions make for one amazing jazz weekend.

The 2009 and 2010 weekends sold out and tickets are selling fast for 2011. Advance bookings close Monday, January 31. For full details go to www.jazzinsouthport.co.uk

To book tickets or request a free 12-page printed programme call 01704 541790.

Weekender tickets are £130, day tickets range from £42-£57 and gig tickets range from £12-£24.

We have teamed up with organisers to offer one lucky reader a pair of tickets to see the Tierney Sutton Band on Sunday, February 6 at 2.45pm.

To be in with a chance of winning just answer the following question correctly.

Which American trumpet player starred on ‘Kind Of Blue’ – the best selling jazz album of all times?

Send your entries on a postcard, or the back of a sealed envelope, to: Jazz Competition, Mediamix, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport PR8 1BT. Closing date is Friday, January 21.